CPEC to bring greater economic cohesion in region, says KP CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak Wednesday said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the potential to radically change the regional dynamics of trade, development and politics and can bring greater economic cohesion in South Asian region.

He was addressing at policy dialogue on energy in context with CPEC here, which was arranged by US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy at the University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar.

Vice-Chancellors University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Dr. Iftikhar Hussain, Vice-Chancellor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Dr. Razia Sultana, academicians, researchers and students attended the seminar, said a handout.

Senator Usman Saifullah, Dr. Mohammad Bilal Khan, Dr. Najibullah and Abbas Khan addressed the seminar. The chief minister said that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was committed to promoting quality higher education and applied research to provide a platform for the young graduates to find suitable jobs at the national and international levels.

He said that Chinese officials were describing the corridor as the “flagship project” of a broader policy to connect China to its markets in Asia, Europe and beyond.“One Belt, One Road is a brilliant geostrategic programme of China and CPEC is a crucial part of this programme,” he maintained. He informed that CPEC was a veritable national project that involved the whole of Pakistan for the benefit of all the peoples of Pakistan without exception.

The chief minister told the seminar that federal government had agreed to develop western route. Similarly he informed that apart from upgradation of Indus Highway and Jhand to Kohat road, the federal government had also agreed to construct railway line from Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan.

A two-day policy dialogue, “Energy Policy Dialogue in context with China Pakistan Economic Corridor” (CPEC) organized by US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, (USPCAS E) University of Engineering and Technology, (UET) Peshawar concluded.

The objective of this dialogue was to deliberate on challenges and opportunities in CPEC for alternative energy solutions, preparation of industries for energy efficient solutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offered by CPEC and to explore developing Public Private Partnerships.

The chief minister appreciated the efforts of USPCAS-E UET Peshawar and USAID to organise policy level dialogues in the field of energy. He informed the audience about the prospects of CPEC, the provincial government’s policy and interaction with the federal government. Among prominent speakers included Senator Usman Saifullah, Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, Dr. Adeem Khan, Member Pakistan Custom services and others.